Main CPGW Record
Surname: POLLARD
Forename(s): William Henry
Place of Birth: Wigan, Lancashire
Service No: ---
Rank: Captain
Regiment / Corps / Service: Mercantile Marine
Battalion / Unit: S.S. 'Steelville'
Division: ---
Age: ---
Date of Death: 1917-10-09
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: ---
CWGC Cemetery: ---
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: BURIED AT SEA
Local War Memorial: HIGH BENTHAM, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
William Henry Pollard (born 10 July 1859) was the son of William and Ann Pollard, née Smith. Both parents were born at Hindley, Lancashire.
1861 Wigan, Lancashire Census: Commercial Inn, 25, Market Place - William H. Pollard, aged 9 months, born Wigan, son of William and Ann Pollard.
1871 Bentham, Yorkshire Census: Mount Pleasant - William H. Pollard, aged 11 years, born Wigan, Lancashire. Boarder. [William was boarding with John and Tabitha Wilson and their children, including Annie Eliza Wilson who later became his wife.]
William was married to Annie Eliza Wilson in 1886.
1901 Bentham, Yorkshire Census: Sunny Bank - William H. Pollard, aged 41 years, born Wigan, Lancashire. Master Mariner. [William and his wife Annie Eliza were living with her mother, Tabitha Wilson, widow.]
1911 Bootle, Lancashire Census: 164, Bedford Road - William Henry Pollard, aged 51 years, born Wigan, Lancashire, Master Mariner. [William was boarding with Annie Cunningham, widow.]
William was serving on S.S. 'Steelville' when he died; his death took place at Latitude 49.14N Longitude 4.50W.
A short biography of William is included in: ‘Bentham’s Part in the Great War 1914-18’ by Allan and Marilyn Hartley (2019).
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
POLLARD, Capt. W.H., Ashville, [Bentham], died at sea Oct. 9, 1917.
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Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Mercantile Marine
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View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
25 June 1915
HIGH BENTHAM – Old Grammar School Boys on Service
Captain W.H. Pollard is at present in the transport service for the French Government between America and France. In a letter received from him this week he has something interesting to say concerning New York sailors, and the difficulty of keeping the Italians from going for the Huns. He wonders why the eligible young men of the country districts “don’t hurry up and join the Forces to help smash the Prussians.” Mr. Pollard is an old Bentham boy.
Captain Robert Bateson, another old boy, has been made a sub-lieutenant, and is in charge of a steam yacht which has been converted into a patrol boat. Altogether ten young men from the district have joined the navy, of whom three at least are at the Dardanelles.
19 October 1917
HIGHER BENTHAM – CAPTAIN POLLARD DIES AT SEA
Captain William Henry Pollard, whose residence was Ashville, Bentham, died at sea on the 9th instant, the cause being dysentery. He was sailing under the Admiralty. Mr. Pollard was an old Grammar School boy, and came to Bentham as a boarder under the late Mr. John Wilson, when only nine years of age. When Mr. Pollard was 14 he was sent to King William’s College, Isle of Man, on the death of Mr. Wilson, where he remained for 2 years, and having a strong desire for the sea he was apprenticed with Messrs. T. and J. Harrison, ship owners, Liverpool. He obtained a master’s certificate when 24 years of age. He was of a quiet disposition and respected by all who knew him.
During 1916 he was 12 months at Archangel, the ship being icebound. He left there in May and had not since been home. The ship visited North Africa, India and France, and on the way home he saw a doctor at Gibraltar, who considered that he was then a little better, and he left that port on the 1st October. Later he became delirious and died on his ship on Tuesday, the 9th inst., at 5 a.m. His vessel being under convoy his remains could not be brought ashore, so he was buried at sea. He leaves a widow to whom the greatest sympathy is felt. The officers and crew of the ship have sent expressions of sympathy.
16 November 1917
HIGHER BENTHAM – MEMORIAL SERVICE
The second memorial service for soldiers killed at the Front was held at St. Margaret’s Church on Sunday afternoon. The sacred edifice was well filled by parishioners of every shade of religious and political opinions. The Vicar (the Rev. G. H. C. Bartley) officiated, and the service was choral, commencing with the opening sentences of the burial service, chanted, as a processional with the Union Jack was carried in front, draped with violet. Between the lessons the choir gave the anthem, ‘I heard a voice from Heaven’ very beautifully, and the Vicar read out the names of the fifteen heroes who have laid down their lives from the parish, as well as the three who are missing, and supposed killed, as follows:– Captain D. Morrison; Private Ed. Magoolaghan; Lance Corporal Joe Jackson; Captain S. C. Bartley (the Vicar’s brother); Corporal E. Leeming; Private Tom Wilcock; Captain G. G. Eccles; Private Ezra Stevenson; Private Len Nelson; Captain Pollard; Private Percy Whitfield (N.Z.); Corporal Wm. Robinson; Corporal Harry Smith; Corporal R. Clarke (missing); Private Lancelot Dowbiggin; Private Ed. Briscoe; Private Edwin Smith.
As the names were read out many tears were shed at the memory of the loved ones ‘Gone West’. Then followed an excellent sermon by the Vicar from the words ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend’, at the conclusion of which Miss V. Stubbs played the ‘Dead March’ whilst the congregation remained standing. The recessional hymn was ‘For all the Saints’, and at the close the organist played ‘I know that my Redeemer liveth’ as a voluntary. The entire service was of a very impressive character.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
19 October 1917
BENTHAM
POLLARD – Died at sea, Oct. 9th, Captain William Henry Pollard, of Ashville, Bentham.
19 October 1917
BENTHAM – DEATH OF CAPTAIN POLLARD
The death of Captain William Henry Pollard, whose residence was Ashville, Bentham, occurred at sea on the 9th inst., the cause being dysentery. He was sailing under the Admiralty. Capt. Pollard was an old Grammar School boy, and came to Bentham as a boarder under the late Mr. John Wilson when only nine years of age. He was sent to King William’s College, Isle of Man, on the death of Mr. Wilson, where he remained two years, and having a strong desire for the sea, he was apprenticed with Messrs. T. and J. Harrison, ship-owners, Liverpool. He obtained his master’s certificate when 24 years of age. He was of a quiet disposition and respected by all who knew him. During 1916 he was 12 months at Archangel, the ship being icebound. He left there in May and had not since been home, the ship visiting North Africa, India, and France, and on the way home he saw a doctor at Gibraltar, who considered that he was then a little better, and he left that port on October 1st. However, later he became delirious and died on his ship on Tuesday, the 9th inst., at 5 a.m. His vessel being under convoy, his remains could not be brought ashore, so he was buried at sea. He leaves a widow to whom the greatest sympathy is felt. The officers and crew of the ship have sent expressions of sympathy.
16 November 1917
BENTHAM
MEMORIAL SERVICE – The second memorial service for soldiers killed at the front was held at St. Margaret’s Church on Sunday afternoon last. The sacred edifice was well filled by parishioners of every shade of religious and political opinion, and the service was of a solemn and reverent character. The vicar (Rev. G.H.C. Bartley) officiated , and the service was choral. It commenced with the opening sentence of the burial service being chanted as a processional. The Union Jack was carried in front, draped with violets. Between the lessons the choir gave the anthem ‘I heard a voice from Heaven,’ and the Vicar read the names of the 15 dead men belonging to the parish who have laid down their lives, as well as of the three who are missing and supposed killed, viz., Capt. D. Morrison. Pte. Ed Magoolaghan, Lance-Corpl. Joe Jackson, Capt. S.C. Bartley (the Vicar’s brother), Corpl. B. Leeming, Capt. Pollard, Pte. Tom Wilcock, Capt. G.[C.] G. Eccles, Pte. Ezra Stevenson, Pte. Len Nelson, Pte. Percy Whitfield (N.Z.). Corpl. Wm. Robinson, Corpl. Harry Smith, Corpl R. Clark; missing, Pte. Lancelot Dowbiggin, Pte. Ed. Briscoe and Pte. Edwin Smith. Then followed an excellent sermon by the Vicar from the words “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend.” At the conclusion of the sermon Miss V. Stubbs played the ‘Dead march,’ the congregation standing. The processional hymn was ‘For all the saints,’ and at the close the organist played ‘I knew that my Redeemer liveth.’ The service was of a very impressive character throughout.
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